News

Flames News

Preview: Flames vs. Hurricanes

by
Staff Writer
/ Calgary Flames

HURRICANES (23-20-8) at FLAMES (21-24-3)

TV: NHL.TV, FS-CR, SN1 (7:30)

Season series: The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2 at home on Jan. 24. Eddie Lack made 31 saves and Kris Versteeg scored twice for the Hurricanes. Sean Monahan scored twice for Calgary.

Hurricanes team scope: Defenceman Brett Pesce (lower body) was placed on injured reserve, and forward Phillip Di Giuseppe and defenceman Ryan Murphy were recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League. Carolina has earned 15 out of a possible 20 points in its past 10 games to climb to within three points of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who hold the second wild card spot from the Eastern Conference into the Stanley Cup Playoffs (the Penguins have played two fewer games). Carolina defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 last Tuesday. This is the first of a three-game trip that ends against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

Flames team scope: Goalie Karri Ramo will start, and forward Michael Ferlund (upper body) will return. Ferlund, out since a collision with Columbus Blue Jackets forward William Karlsson on Jan. 21, skated on a line with Matt Stajan and David Jones. Forwards Joe Colborne (undisclosed) and Josh Jooris (undisclosed) also are healthy after missing the final game before the All-Star break (a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday). Colborne skated on a line with Lance Bouma and Markus Granlund. Jooris was an extra with forward Brandon Bollig. Forward Mason Raymond, placed on waivers Tuesday, and defenceman Dennis Wideman, who had a disciplinary hearing with the NHL, were not at practice. The Flames have lost three in a row and five of their past six games. "We need to basically win two out of every three games," coach Bob Hartley told the Flames website. "We're in that situation. We didn't collect points at the right time against the right opponents in the first part of the season. Now it's the final stretch. We don't have a choice. If we want to be a playoff team, we have to redeem ourselves."